Public Affairs Re-Launch

In April 2017, McAfee became a pure-play cybersecurity company again. As McAfee had not been empowered to speak independently to the press about policy issues, the company wanted to re-emerge on the important policy scene as quickly as possible. RH Strategic helped them do that even more quickly than they had envisioned.

Rather than trying to pitch D.C. reporters with the “new McAfee” story, RH made the strategic decision to focus in sharply on policy developments in D.C. where McAfee could offer its expertise. RH used its network to anticipate upcoming federal initiatives such as executive orders and key legislation, and helped McAfee draft interesting, news-worthy responses to them. We pitched McAfee into news cycles the minute news of these initiatives broke, offering reporters executive statements or interviews with McAfee experts. We also were on the alert for potential nation-state hacks – another area that had been off-limits for commenting – and offered D.C. reporters McAfee experts who could shed light on these.

The effort resulted in 44 pieces of coverage in D.C. between April 4 and the end of May 2017. By contrast, the D.C. coverage of McAfee on policy developments and nation-state threats was only three pieces of coverage in 2016. RH also helped the new public affairs team draft policy papers, write testimony, edit policy submissions and start a policy newsletter. We were thrilled that McAfee’s D.C. presence had such a rapid and successful launch – as if they had never been gone from the scene.

Results: RH Strategic has secured more than 117 pieces of coverage for McAfee in D.C. this year, including The Washington Post, Forbes, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal and policy publications like The Hill, Politico and Axios.

Solutions Provided

RH Strategic won a 2018 PRSA-Puget Sound Totem Award in the category of “Reputation and Brand Management” for its work with client Dreambox Learning on Journey to Redefine Learning

2018 PRSA Puget Sound Totem Award – WINNERMay 1, 2014

RH Strategic won a 2018 PRSA-Puget Sound Totem Award in the category of “Institutional Programs” for its work with client Randstad Technologies on The War for Top IT Talent

2018 PRSA Puget Sound Totem Award – WINNERMay 15, 2014

RH Strategic won a 2018 PRSA-Puget Sound Totem Award in the category of “Institutional Programs” for its work with client Media Pro on Exposing the Human Threat to Cybersecurity

2018 PRSA Puget Sound Totem Award – WINNERMay 23, 2014

RH Strategic won a 2017 PRSA-Bronze Anvil Award of Commendation in the category of "Media Relations" for its work with client Haystax Technology on securing media coverage for Super Bowl 50.

2017 PRSA Bronze Anvil - Award of CommendationJuly 7, 2014

“RH works as an extension of our team. They are our go-to colleagues for building our brand’s leadership in public sector. Their insider’s knowledge and wealth of media contacts are a powerful combination that leads to results.”

RH Strategic won a 2017 PRSA-Puget Sound Totem Award in the category of "Institutional Programs" for its work with client Haystax Technology on securing Super Bowl 50.

2017 PRSA Puget Sound Totem Award - WINNERApril 23, 2015

"In just a few short months of working with RH Strategic, we’ve seen better quality and more frequent media placements than ever before. The team is proactive and responsive, strategic, quick on their feet, and incredibly professional. I can’t ask for a better agency partner!"

RH Strategic won a public relations Bulldog award for the category of "Best Breaking News" for its work with client Morphotrust on the campaign: Digital Driver's License

2016 Public Relations Bulldog Award - WINNERApril 26, 2015

“We receive calls from media, analysts, and event organizers who now seek our expertise and opinion because the RH team has been effective at positioning our brand as the industry leader. They are key to our marketing and communications planning process, and deliver public relations results that are highly valued by our team.”

RH Strategic won a 2016 PRSA-NCC Thoth Award in the category of "Reputation Management" for its work with client Randstad Technologies.

2016 PRSA-NCC Thoth Award - WINNERAugust 20, 2015

“RH Strategic shows that PR really can supercharge a marketing program and help close deals. Their cybersecurity expertise and media savvy have placed our brands in places we wouldn’t have thought possible just a few months ago.”

“RH has helped our brand become the gold standard to which all others are compared. RH has always understood this as the top objective and delivered - through content development and effective public relations results.”

April JohnsonCOO, Apollo Video TechnologyAugust 25, 2015

"As I've worked with RH over the last several years, they've done a really great job of understanding our business and then finding channels for us to communicate with a larger audience. I feel really comfortable with the people there and with the level of support we get from them."

"RH is key to our PR success. They are strategic, creative, and results-driven – and they enhance results by leveraging their understanding of marketing and government relations. Most importantly, they are a truly devoted partner. We consider them members of our in-house team.”

Tom GannVice President, Public Policy, McAfeeSeptember 9, 2015

RH Strategic won a 2016 PRSA Puget Sound Totem award for the category of "Institutional Programs" for its work with client GCI on the TERRA project.

2016 Puget Sound PRSA Totem Award - WinnerSeptember 9, 2015

“The RH team truly understands our business and has been central to the gains we have seen in brand preference and brand awareness among our clients and candidates. I love their proactive approach, creativity and their can-do approach to public relations.”

“The RH team continuously challenges us to look at things from a different perspective than our own. Be it the channels and tools we use to take our story to market, or the way we tell the story itself, it is always a fun, creative, and enlightening process that they lead and then execute on.”

Roei GanzarskiPresident & CEO, BoldIQSeptember 20, 2015

RH Strategic won a 2018 Public Relations Society of America Thoth Award in the category of “Reputation and Brand Management” for its work with client MediaPro on Exploring the Human Threat to Cybersecurity

2018 PRSA Thoth Award – WINNERDecember 14, 2018

RH Strategic won a 2018 Public Relations Society of America: Thoth Award in the category of “Podcast” for its work with client GCI on it's #ThinkArctic podcast designed to connect Arctic influencers